Archive By Section - Letters

As a public citizen, I take offense at the manner in which the business of Camden is being conducted. Suggesting (in public) that "council members have been giving out false information" shows, in my opinion, a lack of leadership abilities. If the Mayor has a problem with Council members or members of the public, he should deal with that problem as any good businessman does -- in private. As a public citizen, my statements (a year or so ago) were also called into question by the Mayor (in the press) regarding a meeting about the railroad depot -- there could be others ...

Recently in response to Governor Haley's attempt to force the South Carolina State Senate to do her bidding to reform state government, Senator Glenn McConnell in an editorial commentary made a convincing and timely statement with respect to deliberative legislative process and to the respect for constitutional law and the processes of orderly government. While one may not always be in agreement with Senator McConnell, what he had to say in this matter should be a tenet for guiding not only us who serve in government but should be a guiding principle for all of us in going about ...

I write in response to an article "Spurrier: Pay the 'performers' -- give players $300 a game" which appeared in the A section of The State newspaper June 2, in which Steve Spurrier, head football coach at USC in Columbia, "proposed a resolution at the SEC's spring meetings that would pay college football players in the conference $300 per game, with the money coming out of the head coaches' pockets."

As time goes on, the people of this once great country become more and more inundated with Star Trek-type technology, economic uncertainties and the country's seemingly dependence on drugs in one form or another.

It's a shame that we have a city and county council that spend money like the Obama Administration. This has got to stop. A 30 percent increase in salaries for county council? You have got to be kidding. This is our taxpayer money being spent. We have got to get rid of these people.

We pray that the President will remain safe! However, I did not nor ever will vote for him! He truly did not lie about change! Like it or not, there has been change. I personally cannot think of a good one. He does not love our America. All the men and women who gave their lives for this wonderful country and many who are still living surely are disappointed in the un-American administration.

It is my understanding from reading the text of S.C. State Code of Laws, Section 6-1-700, that the hospitality tax is to be used for tourist-related activities. The city's plan for opening a YMCA does not meet this criteria. We have empty store fronts due to restaurants/retail stores closing from lack of business. The funds from the hospitality tax would be more appropriately spent on tourism as it is intended … billboards on I-20, advertising, events that draw non-residents to the downtown area to eat, shop, buy gas and spend the night. It would seem to me a ...

Wonder why Lugoff is beginning to look like Detroit east? A grocery store, dry cleaners, dollar store, fast food restaurant and many more are gone. Take a close look down at your local government building.

Since my last letter to you, I have received five phone calls and numerous personal comments from friends regarding the City of Camden/Columbia YMCA partnership. All of these contacts have been supportive of my letter and thus my belief that something is not right within our city council.

A the Kershaw County Council meeting Tuesday, June 14, Sammie Tucker – who represents the Charlotte Thompson precinct in which I reside -- made a motion to "adjust" council's salaries from $10,000 to $13,000 a year. It included "adjusting" the vice chairman's salary (his own position) from $11,000 to $15,000 a year. Do the math – that amounts to a 30 percent increase in salary, plus benefits. The motion passed by a 4-3 margin. The three opponents were Stephen Smoak, Jimmy Jones and Chairman Gene Wise. These three members considered the citizens' pocketbooks more than their own.

We all have recently received our new tax assessments from the county and if you, like me, were surprised to see that your property has increased in value significantly you probably said something like," are they crazy? Don't they know that property values are down?" The answer to that is, of course they do, but that is irrelevant to the objectives of an ever-increasing government. This is about maintaining and/or growing government.

On April 13, Mrs. Audree A. Clark of Cassatt celebrated her 91st birthday with her family on the patio of the Karesh Wing at KershawHealth. Mrs. Clark was on the Karesh Wing recovering from a recent fall and was receiving physical therapy. Throughout the day, the family talked in anticipation of her coming home, and she said she wanted a really big celebration thrown in her honor. The family was all smiles as they sang "Happy Birthday." The cake, so delicately made by her daughter, Jimmie, sat in front of her. They gazed upon her as she cut her cake ...

I recently received my updated property appraisal notice and was quite surprised. I was surprised with the reassessment because the value is higher than previous years. And although we've maintained the property in good shape we have not made any expansions or improvements. This property was acquired in 2005 and, based on my limited understanding of appraisals and reappraisals and the associated state laws, my belief would be that it was based on the so-called and recently controversial "point of sale" appraisal. The increased value is even more surprising since this property was acquired at or near the peak ...

As a volunteer at KershawHealth, I agree with Bob Dornblaser. We do take jobs away from employees. However, if we all resigned, the hospital leadership would not rehire those employees. The patients would suffer. The employees who depend on our help would suffer. Amy Kinard, the new volunteer director who had nothing to do with this mess, would suffer.